TW Review: Babolat AeroPro Drive 2013 racquets

I almost did not want to look at the review scores, as I knew they would be totally inflated but had to see how inflated. As expected/as usual they were, but at least we're not in the 90's yet. Guess we will save that mark until the next version comes out.
I'll go out on a limb and award the next version a conservative 94 even though it will not even hit the design table for another year or so. Great strategy for selling crap loads of Babolats but not so good for the other manufactures also investing in innovations and selling products through this online marketplace...
Just saying, if I were Wilson, Head, Dunlop, Prince etc, I'd be pretty ticked off by now...

I almost did not want to look at the review scores, as I knew they would be totally inflated but had to see how inflated. As expected/as usual they were, but at least we're not in the 90's yet. Guess we will save that mark until the next version comes out.
I'll go out on a limb and award the next version a conservative 94 even though it will not even hit the design table for another year or so. Great strategy for selling crap loads of Babolats but not so good for the other manufactures also investing in innovations and selling products through this online marketplace...
Just saying, if I were Wilson, Head, Dunlop, Prince etc, I'd be pretty ticked off by now...

i find that every racquet is best in the hands of a very advanced player.

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Good point. But for advanced players the difficulties of some rackets disappear by comparison with less good players. So you may find an APD much easier than a Tour 90 but for them the differences are less significant. Their comparison is based on different criteria to yours. But the real point here is that while lots of people think that the APD is a tweener, the sheer number of average to good players on these boards who say that it is simply "too powerful" and that they hit the ball out too much tells the story. That is not a problem for Nadal. The APD is a racket that works better for very good players than for average or good players.

Good point. But for advanced players the difficulties of some rackets disappear by comparison with less good players. So you may find an APD much easier than a Tour 90 but for them the differences are less significant. Their comparison is based on different criteria to yours. But the real point here is that while lots of people think that the APD is a tweener, the sheer number of average to good players on these boards who say that it is simply "too powerful" and that they hit the ball out too much tells the story. That is not a problem for Nadal. The APD is a racket that works better for very good players than for average or good players.

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Couldn't agree more. I had one of these for a month or two and could never really warm to it but more importanty it killed my arm. Went to a Volkl Organix 10 which was better for me but settled on a BLX Six One 16X18. It's a hundred times more forgiving and easier to use for a club hacker like me. People get freaked by the weight but that's red herring. Half the people I see around still have the yellow and black monster though - and plenty of them are even worse than me.

Good point. But for advanced players the difficulties of some rackets disappear by comparison with less good players. So you may find an APD much easier than a Tour 90 but for them the differences are less significant. Their comparison is based on different criteria to yours. But the real point here is that while lots of people think that the APD is a tweener, the sheer number of average to good players on these boards who say that it is simply "too powerful" and that they hit the ball out too much tells the story. That is not a problem for Nadal. The APD is a racket that works better for very good players than for average or good players.

Good point. But for advanced players the difficulties of some rackets disappear by comparison with less good players. So you may find an APD much easier than a Tour 90 but for them the differences are less significant. Their comparison is based on different criteria to yours. But the real point here is that while lots of people think that the APD is a tweener, the sheer number of average to good players on these boards who say that it is simply "too powerful" and that they hit the ball out too much tells the story. That is not a problem for Nadal. The APD is a racket that works better for very good players than for average or good players.

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Not just the the level but the style, and especially the grip, only reaches its potential with a full western forehand grip.

Good point. But for advanced players the difficulties of some rackets disappear by comparison with less good players. So you may find an APD much easier than a Tour 90 but for them the differences are less significant. Their comparison is based on different criteria to yours. But the real point here is that while lots of people think that the APD is a tweener, the sheer number of average to good players on these boards who say that it is simply "too powerful" and that they hit the ball out too much tells the story. That is not a problem for Nadal. The APD is a racket that works better for very good players than for average or good players.

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I would agree with this, but plenty of higher level players may still tell you the frame is too powerful because it doesn't suit their game. I know a few teaching pros currently entering and winning some fairly big open tournies who asked me why I was demoing the new one, and they said it was too powerful for how they liked to hit.

Guess the point is that there are grey areas. If you hit with a lot of spin and a western grip, the APD is a great option. If you want to go more SW and also drive through the ball a little more, you may find the stick to have too much power for how you like to hit. I could definitely adjust and play with an APD if it was not so stiff on my arm, but the way I like to hit the ball is better suited for more of a control frame.

I bolded the last statement because that applies to a ton of racquets in the player and tweener category.

In my review I said I think this stick is best for a junior who hits with a ton spin and prefers a defensive style of play. Still feel like that is accurate. What makes the racquet so cool is that anyone can use it, but definitely it takes someone with a lot of energy, endurance and developed footwork to really tap into the frame.

I would agree with this, but plenty of higher level players may still tell you the frame is too powerful because it doesn't suit their game. I know a few teaching pros currently entering and winning some fairly big open tournies who asked me why I was demoing the new one, and they said it was too powerful for how they liked to hit.

Guess the point is that there are grey areas. If you hit with a lot of spin and a western grip, the APD is a great option. If you want to go more SW and also drive through the ball a little more, you may find the stick to have too much power for how you like to hit. I could definitely adjust and play with an APD if it was not so stiff on my arm, but the way I like to hit the ball is better suited for more of a control frame.

I bolded the last statement because that applies to a ton of racquets in the player and tweener category.

In my review I said I think this stick is best for a junior who hits with a ton spin and prefers a defensive style of play. Still feel like that is accurate. What makes the racquet so cool is that anyone can use it, but definitely it takes someone with a lot of energy, endurance and developed footwork to really tap into the frame.

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Well, I just dont know. I spent a week at an academy in France last year. There were all sorts of very good players there -- Davis Cup players, guys in the top 200, some of the top junior women in Europe. They almost all played Babolat, the APD was dominant. The power and spin they were hitting with was amazing. And that power and spin gave them the opportunity to do amazing things with the ball to win points. I find the idea that the rackets are too powerful a little strange. You do have to develop the way you play to get the most out of them. If you dont want to change then you may not benefit from them. But I am not sure that, for example, you must have an extreme grip. Of course, these rackets aren't for everyone.

Well, I just dont know. I spent a week at an academy in France last year. There were all sorts of very good players there -- Davis Cup players, guys in the top 200, some of the top junior women in Europe. They almost all played Babolat, the APD was dominant. The power and spin they were hitting with was amazing. And that power and spin gave them the opportunity to do amazing things with the ball to win points. I find the idea that the rackets are too powerful a little strange. You do have to develop the way you play to get the most out of them. If you dont want to change then you may not benefit from them. But I am not sure that, for example, you must have an extreme grip. Of course, these rackets aren't for everyone.

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I agree, I have an extreme western forehand grip and I play with the APD with ease. Give me a Yonex racket which is a great racket and it may feel good for a while but later on I feel totally confused.

Loved the 2012 version of the the Pure Drive Roddick - enough to make it my regular stick. The regular Pure Drive 2012 is very good as well, but I like that little bit of extra weight.

But, there isn't a heavier version of the ADP, correct? I guess the heavier model in that line would be the Aero Storm Tour (no 2013 version yet), and for some reason, that's never clicked for me.

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No, there is not a heavier version. But, I suggested a Tour version in the "Bonjour from Babolat" thread. I also think that too much weight in the APD will take away its whippiness and racket speed to hit fast, loopy strokes to develop a particular type of topspin. So, beware.
For now, if you want a heavier version TW customizes (20 bucks per racket) or do it yourself if you know how.
If I am not mistalen the Aero Storm has a different string pattern (16 x 20), has a smaller sweetspot and will be discontinued.